Restless legs syndrome and tension-type headache: a population-based study

J Headache Pain. 2017 Dec;18(1):47. doi: 10.1186/s10194-017-0754-x. Epub 2017 Apr 19.

Abstract

Background: Recent studies have shown a significant association between restless legs syndrome (RLS) and primary headache disorders. Nevertheless, information regarding the association between tension-type headache (TTH) and RLS is limited. This study aimed to investigate the association between RLS and TTH in a population-based sample.

Methods: We selected a stratified random population sample of Koreans aged 19-69 years and assessed them using a semi-structured interview designed to identify RLS, headache type, and clinical characteristics of TTH. We determined the prevalence and clinical impact of RLS in participants with TTH.

Results: Of the 2695 participants, 570 (21.2%) and 142 (5.3%) were classified as having TTH and RLS, respectively. Among the 570 individuals with TTH, 113 (19.8%) also met the criteria for probable migraine (PM). The prevalence of RLS was significantly higher among individuals with TTH than among those with non-headache (6.0% vs 3.6%, p = 0.018). The prevalence of RLS was significantly higher in subjects with TTH who fulfilled PM criteria than in those with non-headache participants (8.0% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.018). However, RLS prevalence in individuals with TTH who did not fulfil PM criteria did not differ from that of participants with non-headache (5.5% vs. 3.6%, p = 0.063). TTH participants with RLS had higher visual analogue scale scores for headache intensity (5.1 ± 2.0 vs. 4.3 ± 1.8, p = 0.038), and higher prevalence of anxiety (20.6% vs. 8.8%, p = 0.022) and depression (14.7% vs. 3.5%, p = 0.002) than TTH participants without RLS. Multivariable analyses revealed that headache aggravation by movement (odds ratio [OR] = 2.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1-5.2) and depression (OR = 3.5, 95% CI = 1.1-11.4) were significant indicators of RLS among individuals with TTH.

Conclusions: The prevalence of RLS was higher among individuals with TTH than among those with non-headache. Some clinical presentations varied in accordance with the presence of RLS among participants with TTH.

Keywords: Anxiety; Depression; Restless legs syndrome; Tension-type headache.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anxiety / diagnosis
  • Anxiety / epidemiology
  • Depression / diagnosis
  • Depression / epidemiology
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis
  • Depressive Disorder / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Population Surveillance*
  • Prevalence
  • Random Allocation
  • Republic of Korea / epidemiology
  • Restless Legs Syndrome / diagnosis*
  • Restless Legs Syndrome / epidemiology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Tension-Type Headache / diagnosis*
  • Tension-Type Headache / epidemiology*